I may have a chance to buy a 5 string SUB bass and I want to know if TBers think the SUB bass will hold its value in the future, or maybe increase in value. I don't need another bass but if it is a good investment I could justify it. 
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Musicman SUB Bass: Will it become collectable?
- Thread starter PluckyThump
- Start date
I don't see why it would be any more valuable than a regular musicman. they aren't that rare...
I would not buy very many basses for investment purposes, and the ones I would buy are already expensive (i.e. fenders and a few other brands from before 1980.)
I would not buy very many basses for investment purposes, and the ones I would buy are already expensive (i.e. fenders and a few other brands from before 1980.)
I don't know.....I'd be inclined to say no, but the whole Squier JV thing makes me think it's possible.
Who knows. I have a SUB Sterling and I love it. Plays great. Feels great. Sounds great. I have had mine for a four year and a half years and there is not a single scratch on the body finish. It is extremely durable.
The SUB sterling is much rarer than the regualr one. The 5 strings are more rare also.
I can't see buying one for an investment though...
I can't see buying one for an investment though...
Not a chance IMO. Why would an inferior copy of a Stingray ever sell for more than a real Stingray?
Rarity? Nope. They made lots of them.
Buy it if you like it and play it. IF it ever appreciates, that's a bonus.
Rarity? Nope. They made lots of them.
Buy it if you like it and play it. IF it ever appreciates, that's a bonus.
It's a tough call on this one. Collectable... maybe, maybe not. The used market could value it in-between the standard US-made basses and the "SBMM" overseas instruments. I think at very least it will likely hold it's value simply being a US-made bass: that still counts for a good deal, especially when the instruments are as well made as the SUB line was. As a SUB Sterling owner I'd *certainly* pick up a SUB StingRay 5 over a "Ray35" as I feel the SUBs were (and still are) an absolute steal given the quality of my SUB Sterling.
bongomania
Commercial User
Collectible? No. Highly prized/praised and hard-to-find in good condition? Yes.
I'm really curious how the new Sterling line will turn out for EBMM and its impact on resale for USA instruments.
I'm really curious how the new Sterling line will turn out for EBMM and its impact on resale for USA instruments.
I think SUBs will be collectable. They are made great and sound great. Made in the USA, short production run, and made with actual Musicman parts. The "Sterling by Musicman" basses are imports made with replica parts and are selling new at a significantly higher price than some used SUBs are at the moment. I don't think that will continue unless the verdict is that the new imports are so much better.
I agree with that part of the last post. In about ten years, I could see SUBs becoming collectable because they are USA made Music Man basses, even if they were a budget line. As for the Sterling by Ernie Ball basses, I think they are great, and they wil only help Ernie Ball.
The most meaningless question in the universe is "will {NAME OF BASS/GUITAR} become collectible?"
One of the prime factors contributing to the mystique of "collectibility" is that no one could have predicted it when it first came out. If people suspect something has "collectibility" at the outset, they collect it. Supply meets demand, and the "collectible" item is no longer in scarce supply, and thus not "collectible."
Q.E.D.
One of the prime factors contributing to the mystique of "collectibility" is that no one could have predicted it when it first came out. If people suspect something has "collectibility" at the outset, they collect it. Supply meets demand, and the "collectible" item is no longer in scarce supply, and thus not "collectible."
Q.E.D.
As much as I'm not fond of playing devil's advocate for this kind of sincere inquiry, I've got to agree with the quoted post. When I think of collectible, I think of things that are made in smaller quantities, with characteristics that make them stand out from the pack. The diamond plate pickguard and textured finish of a SUB just aren't those things to me... that being said, I figure if you like the way it plays and sounds, shouldn't that be the only thing of "value" to you? I figure if you're looking for an investment, just stick your money in a bank account (or in these difficult financial times, a jar/matress).
The only reason I'd consider a SUB as "collectible" or " Desirable" is in the form of a SUB 5...for my personal tastes because It has a 4-string version pickguard. It can be looked upon as "rare" or an oddball for this reason.
I can honestly say that I dislike the standard SR5 pickguard...I'd like to own a SUB 5.
Link Removed
I can honestly say that I dislike the standard SR5 pickguard...I'd like to own a SUB 5.
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As far as the particular SUB you're interested in holding its value, that depends on how much you pay for it and the conditon of the instrument. If you pay $250, than you'll likely be able to flip it for a small profit. If you pay $700, than you're going to take a hit. But this all changes if its been heavily abused or modified.
Will SUB's, in general, hold their value?
Meh, I don't know. What do I look like? A fortune teller!?!
Maybe they will retain a bit of value, they've got the MIA thing going on (which, I think like cars, means less and less every day). But the SUBs are competing directly with full-boat EBMM's of which the used market is never lacking and the prices of which can vary quite a bit. Its not hard to find a killer deal on a Stingray if you're patient and aren't too picky about color.
Will SUB's, in general, hold their value?
Meh, I don't know. What do I look like? A fortune teller!?!
Maybe they will retain a bit of value, they've got the MIA thing going on (which, I think like cars, means less and less every day). But the SUBs are competing directly with full-boat EBMM's of which the used market is never lacking and the prices of which can vary quite a bit. Its not hard to find a killer deal on a Stingray if you're patient and aren't too picky about color.
Put me in the "will probably hold its value" camp. There should be a reasonably steady demand at the current market price. I figure it may end up like the Peavey T-40 or the USA Millenniums which you can get your money back for if you buy it for a reasonable price - (T-40 for $300 or so; Millenniums for $100-125 per string).
The X factor on collectibility would be if some new band with a charismatic bassist that only plays SUBs hits it big. Even if I didn't already love his music, Billie Joe Armstrong would be a hero to me for making my Les Paul Jr. jump in value.
The X factor on collectibility would be if some new band with a charismatic bassist that only plays SUBs hits it big. Even if I didn't already love his music, Billie Joe Armstrong would be a hero to me for making my Les Paul Jr. jump in value.
My guess would be no. Plenty of them have been made and I personally didn't think it was a bargain. I though a real ray was more bang for a buck than the sub and as the new ray 34 and 35 are coming out, I'd think they're going to take the sub crowd. Also very few newer, under 20 year old instrument have any real increase in value except for some rare limited edition ones.
But buing a new bass as an investment isn't really something worth doing if any real revenue is wanted. For example, if one bought, let's say a P bass back in the day, like 62, one would have had to keep it almost 50 years to get the money they sell for now. And as the classic status of the sub bass is very questionable, I can't help but wonder if it's worth waiting decades to see if a bass might go up in value. And even if you bought a more likely future classic, something like a artist model fender, there's still no guarantee it will ever go up in price. Who knows if a victor bailey jazz from 2009 will be worth five times the original value in 2059. The point is, if you're in your mid twenties or something, I think opening up a savings account is a better way to ensure some extra cash in your retirement days. Buying 50 possible future classics would be a differend thing as the profit per bass wouldn't have to be as high to make so money worth mentioning. But still there are plenty of better ways of making your money work for you.
But is the bass is worth buying is a whole differend question. And the only correct answer is that if you like it enough to put your hard earned money into it, then yes, it's definately worth buying no matter what anyone says.
But buing a new bass as an investment isn't really something worth doing if any real revenue is wanted. For example, if one bought, let's say a P bass back in the day, like 62, one would have had to keep it almost 50 years to get the money they sell for now. And as the classic status of the sub bass is very questionable, I can't help but wonder if it's worth waiting decades to see if a bass might go up in value. And even if you bought a more likely future classic, something like a artist model fender, there's still no guarantee it will ever go up in price. Who knows if a victor bailey jazz from 2009 will be worth five times the original value in 2059. The point is, if you're in your mid twenties or something, I think opening up a savings account is a better way to ensure some extra cash in your retirement days. Buying 50 possible future classics would be a differend thing as the profit per bass wouldn't have to be as high to make so money worth mentioning. But still there are plenty of better ways of making your money work for you.
But is the bass is worth buying is a whole differend question. And the only correct answer is that if you like it enough to put your hard earned money into it, then yes, it's definately worth buying no matter what anyone says.
- Dec 5, 2002
- 4,165
- 2,254
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball Music Man/Sterling By Music Man
I don't think SUBs will ever be at the same level as, say, pre-65 Fenders. (It's hard to imagine anything current being worth that much.....including, to me, pre-65 Fenders, but that's just me.)
So in terms of collectible, which I might be guilty of saying out loud, probably not. I do think they'll hold their value very well since they weren't that expensive to begin with, and, properly set up and maintained, the SUB is nearly level with any other bass produced by EBMM.
Desirable might be a better term to use.
Jack
So in terms of collectible, which I might be guilty of saying out loud, probably not. I do think they'll hold their value very well since they weren't that expensive to begin with, and, properly set up and maintained, the SUB is nearly level with any other bass produced by EBMM.
Desirable might be a better term to use.
Jack
Thanks for your opinions guys. The general consensus seems to be "buy it if you like it and it's a good price." That's the attitude I will take, forget about the investment angle.
